Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 October 2017
15. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to deal with the significant financial shortfall in Iarnród Éireann, especially with regard to the capital budget for the rail network; and his views on whether closing certain rail lines is a potential solution. [41967/17]
View answer26. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will assure workers in Irish Rail and the travelling public that the Government does not support the closure of any of the existing rail network or lines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42135/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 26 together.
I refer the Deputies to my replies to Priority Question Nos. 1 and 2, which I answered earlier.
In terms of subvention, I have increased the actual level of subvention available for public transport, which has allowed Iarnród Éireann to receive higher levels of support. Of course I recognise that subvention levels were reduced during the recession; most areas of public expenditure were. But PSO subvention is now increasing - last year Iarnród Éireann got 13% more than 2015. This year it will increase by a further 10%. Overall Exchequer funding (PSO and capital investment) for Iarnród Éireann this year will be over €300 million. But let me be equally clear, that in always focussing on the incremental increases in Budget lines, we can easily forget about the sheer size of taxpayers' money we're talking about. Between 2008 and 2016 the taxpayer has made over €5 Billion available to the three CIÉ companies across both PSO and Capital investment programmes. As taxpayers we need to be certain of the value for money for that level of expenditure.
Just last week, my Department received the NTA's report about the submissions it received as part of the public consultation on the Rail Review Report 2016. As I have already stated, I will now consider the consultation report and I will then bring it to Government. It is my intention that the consultation report should be published by the NTA following consideration by Government. In advance of that, no decisions have been taken regarding matters such as the future of individual rail lines or investment in the company and its relevant infrastructure.
